Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1887-12-01

4 bloody ARRAY, the OUTCOME of the Re-
cent Labor Troubles, in Which Two
WHITES and Six Negroes were Killed and
Several of the Latter Injured.
New ORLEANS, La, Nov. 25.-For sew
eral weeks the town of Thibodeaux, In
La FourcheParish, has been the scene az
considerable disturbances, and more
anxiety on account of the labor strike in
the sugar plantations. Most but not all
OF the laborers are negroes. Probably
about ten per cont. are white, many Of
whom came from the North to spend the
winter and work at gathering the cane
and making the sugar. The laborers had
been organized into sections or lodges of
Knights of Labor in that parish under
the leadership of Julius Bailly. K.
0. Rousseau, whites, and two broth.
ers, Cox. negroes, and they de-
manded $1.2 day and sixty cents ex-
ira for night watches of six hours. Thew
were already receiving one dollar day
and fifty cents for night watches. They
also get quarters on the plantation.
When the demands Of the strikers were
refused, they refused to work, and were
evicted from their quarters, where MANY
of them had their families. They moved
their women and ichildren to Thibadoux.
occupying all the barns, sugar houses and
empty houses they could find, while the
men Ioafed about the country. At the
beginning of the troubles the State militia
companies were sent to the disturbed
districts, and for several weaks military
force was held at Thibadoux. ION
Sunday the last of the soldiers
were sent home, and the troubles were
supposed to be settled. Most of the plant
ers had acceded to the demands of the
strikers in part or whole, but there was a
general determination not to employ any
of the ringleaders who were mentioned
above. When the troops departed from
Thibadoux a committee of citizsns was
appointed to look after the public defense.
On Saturday night, after the troops had
left. row occurred in bar-room in Thi-
badoux, kept by Henry Franklin, colored
where William Watson and Morris Page
two negroes, the former a man of good
chara cter, were shot, Watson being
killed. The shooting was done by
white man, who, it is claimed, was
a strang ger in the place. Retaliation by
the negroes was feared, and number of
the male population were sworn in as
deputy sheriffs. They patroled the town
and guarded the principal approaches
with picket squads. On Wednesday
morning before five O'Clock, while it was
IT,
Malaison, young men and respected mer-
chants, were sitting around fire near
the railroad track at the western end of
the town, when they were fred upon I'M
expectedly. German received a large
lead slug near the left eye. 1t ranged
downward into the mouth, bearing away
the bones in its progress. MaIaison was
struck by two similar slugs, chopped
from bar Of lead, in his right thigh. Both
wounds are serious, but possibly not fatal
The noise of the firing brought large
party of armed citizens to the locality,
where a general firing ensued, the negroes
being in considerable force. According
to the statement of the Lieutenant Cover.
nor of the State, who lives at Thibadoux,
and other officials of the town, six negroes
were killed and six wounded. The
negroes dispersed, but it is most likely
that more Were hurt. No other casualties
are reported among tho whites. The fol.
lowing is statement made on the subject
by State and town officials on the spot:
THIBoDEAUx, La. Nov 23.-Our labor troubles
had about ceased when, on Tuesday after
noon, the people of the town were reliably in
formed that an attack would be made upon the
town during the night. To prevent any trouble
a strong guard of deputy sheriffs were picketed
at all approaches at seven o'clock this morn
ing two of the guards, John J. German and
Henry Madison, two of the most respectable
and esteemed youngmen of our town were shot
from ambush and seriously wounded Two OF
their friends rushed to their assistance, and
while they were attempting to relieve their
wounded comrades they were also fred upon
from ambush, but luckily they were not in
jured. fearful state of excitement
arose and the armed guards of
the town rushed to the scene of
action. They were also fired upon from am
bush and then returned the fire by general
fusilade, which was kept up until the rioters
were dispersed. Some six rioters are known to
nave been killed and many wounded. None
OF the other guards of the town were injured
except those mentioned. The people are deter
mined to preserve the peace, and all good citI-
zens are in perfect accord. The above facts ar
gained from reliable sources.
CLAY KNOBLOCK.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS of this State.
TAYLOR BEATTY,
Judge OF the Nineteenth Judicial District
T. THIBODEAUx,
Sheriff of Terre Bonne Parish.
S. MOORE,
Mayor of Thibodeaux